Forlan eager for European return

Diego Forlan is looking forward to making his Champions League debut for Inter, some six months on from signing for the club.

Diego Forlan is looking forward to making his Champions League debut for Inter, some six months on from signing for the club.

Forlan was bought towards the end of the summer from Atletico Madrid, but he was ineligible for the group stages having represented the Spanish side in a third round qualifying fixture.

“I was missing it,” admitted the Uruguayan in an interview with UEFA.com.

“This competition is the most important in the world and I'm looking forward to playing in it again. Now I can and we are already in the Last 16.

“What I have always tried to do for all the teams I played for as a striker, is score goals. And also, now that I play a bit deeper, I can also help out defensively and give support there.”

Forlan has not scored for the Nerazzurri since his League debut in September, including nine appearances under current Coach Claudio Ranieri. However, the 32-year-old maintains that under the former Parma, Juventus and Roma boss, he is still happy.

“I came here, played a few matches, and then the Coach changed. It happens - I suffered an injury, too. However I have always felt happy here - I'm totally convinced by the decision to come.

“Ranieri is a great Coach. In fact I've played against his teams in England and in Spain a few times, and I always respected him. He's coached many big teams.

“Now I am coached by him, and it's a real privilege. We are convinced that we can return to how we were doing during that series of seven consecutive [League] wins.”

Forlan reflected that the team are not looking beyond Marseille at this point in the competition.

“There are a lot of strong teams with outstanding players. You just need to take it match by match and avoid setting expectations too high. We have to focus on the tie with Marseille, get past them, and then we will see.”

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